A ROTARY club has donated hundreds of pounds to a local youth club who have faced challenges since running entirely as a charity.

Weymouth Rotary donated a total of £400 to STEPS Club for Young People – a charity that provides activities, opportunities, projects, awards and support for 13–19-year-olds who are disadvantaged, excluded or vulnerable.

The donation will go towards providing a programme of developmental opportunities for young people and extra professional support.

The donation was made possible after Weymouth Rotary took to Weymouth town centre for their Christmas Collection, allowing people to donate knowing that all money collected would go to good causes locally.

Weymouth Rotary has been offering financial help to STEPS and The Littlemoor Youth Club since the old Dorset County Council had cut financial support to youth clubs.

Jerry Way, Weymouth Rotary Club said: “It is always goof to help local charities and good causes such as STEPS. Weymouth Rotary Club will help where it can given the financial climate at the moment.

“Rotarians take great satisfaction in supporting the town and if any of the Echo readers feel they can help us please contact Weymouth Rotary Club at their HQ at Pilgrim House, Hope Square, Weymouth.”

A total of £1,600 was collected over several days during the Christmas Collection, with money being donated equally between The Food Bank, The Lantern Trust that helps the homeless, the non-for-profit community shop The Nest and STEPS Club for Young People.

The presentation of the cheque to STEPS was the last to be made.

Principal Youth Worker for STEPS, Tom Lane, said: “It’s been quite a challenge to run the club entirely as a charity since 2016 and we are immensely grateful to Weymouth Rotary Club for this, as well as previous donations.

“We are delighted to have a longstanding relationship with the Rotary Club and are proud that they appreciate the difference we make to the lives of young people and to our community. The donation will help us to provide a programme of developmental opportunities for young people as well as professional support.”